Not So Halloween

I've been feeling all nostalgic as I contemplated writing a post commemorating Wilde family Halloweens gone past. This holiday has become increasingly more important in my adult years than it ever was growing up. I blame it on the competitiveness of the entire Wilde clan who strive each year to come up with the greatest costume year after year to showcase at Grandma's annual Halloween party.

I came across this photo. I didn't remember it from last year. We were so devastated by Dad's recent health news a year ago, that we didn't even consider dressing up. Then good ol' Dad started getting into the Halloween spirit and latched onto the idea of being Cyclops. The rest of us cobbled together our costumes to round out the Greek Mythology theme.

I decided on just this one photo because even though Dad wasn't feeling well, here he is in all his Cyclops glory with a smile on his face. What makes this picture even better is Mom's smile in the background. (And the majesty of her Medusa hair!) I will be forever grateful to Dad for toughing it out and helping all of us have one last fun Halloween memory together and for teaching us that life still goes on.

I'll be saving my Halloween trip down memory lane for another time.

This is the first year in nearly 10 years that I haven't dressed up. Maybe I'll just paint my nails black and call it a day.

Bicycle Birthday

 

For Steele's birthday this year we decided to let his love of cycling inspire the theme of the party. Since we all love cycling too, it wasn't a bad choice!

 

All the major jersey colors represented---I cut out nearly 500!!! The rainbow ribbon isn't exactly accurate, but close enough.

 

The jerseys were strung together to make garlands. It's hard to tell by the photo how fantastic they turned out.

 

I made paper medallions.

 

And stuck them on the treat boxes containing dark chocolate peanut butter cups, black and white circus animal cookies, wafer cookies, and striped fudge cookies.

 

For my birthday Mom found some REALLY good cupcakes that even Steele ate. He usually isn't a sweet tooth. D.D. ordered these adorable cupcake toppers, but when Mom went to get the cupcakes they didn't have the same flavors. Don't worry, we had PLENTY of sugar!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUTTONS!

We love you!

And come next July we'll be all set to decorate for the Tour de France!

 

One Year

One year ago today my family received devastating news. A year ago Dad was given 9-12 months to live. In January we were told that the cancer had spread to his brain. Two weeks later he was gone. It happened much faster than we thought it would. We had less than 4 months.

I came across this draft of a post I never finished. It doesn't express the loss I have felt over the past 8 months, but it does demonstrate my love and faith.

 

 Saying goodbye.

"10/17/12

I've had a week to digest the news. It's slowly leaking out. It is just as hard telling someone as it was the first time. Well, maybe not the first time because the first time was my sister, but the second.

Dad's doctors have tried 4 different chemotherapy drugs over the course of the past little over a year. There is nothing left to try. Bladder cancer cells grow and spread extremely fast. The specter of death has been behind the scenes for a year and a half. Now it is the elephant in the room. The unwanted guest that won't leave.

As we prepare ourselves for this new eventuality, our family is growing even closer (is that possible?). We've cried together. We've cried alone. We've prayed together. We've prayed alone. I'm grateful for the comforting spirit of the Holy Ghost. I know we are an eternal family. I know that we will be together again. This is certainly the hardest thing I've ever had to go through.

Why am I sharing something so personal? I started this blog to post about things that inspire and motivate me. Projects, recipes, shop updates, other artists, trips, places I've seen. Sometimes I feel like I am the only person who reads my blog, and that's okay. I've never been very good at expressing myself through writing, so blogging is a good exercise for me.

My dad is an amazing example to me. I'm so lucky to be his daughter."

I love you Daddy.